The non-profit organization International Cruise Victims ("ICV") posted a story on its website regarding Princess Cruises crew member Angelo Faliva who "disappeared" from the Coral Princess cruise ship in November 2009.
The ICV represents victims of crime on cruise ships, their families and friends, and individuals concerned about disappearances on cruise ships and the cruise industry's lack of transparency. With several hundred members throughout the world, the organization advocates for legislative reform and provides support to victims of crimes occurring on cruise ships. For additional information about the ICV, please contact its president, Ken Carver.
Meanwhile Mr. Faliva's sister, Chiara, continues to seek information from any passengers or crew members who may have information. Ms. Faliva posted a request on a "Princess Cruise Staff" Facebook page:
PLEASE HELP ME: Hi, my name is Chiara Faliva, and I'm the sister of Angelo Faliva, the 31 year old Italian chef disappeared from the cruise "Coral Princess" the night of 25th November 2009, while the cruise was sailing between Aruba and Cartagena (Colombia). I'm looking for passengers that were in this ship that night . . . I just want to have some contacts with them. Please, please help me. My e-mail is: chiara_faliva@msn.com. Thank you very much for your attention.
Angelo and Chiara are seen in this photograph in in happier times as loving brother and sister.
We have written many articles about this latest "disappearance" and the failure of the cruise lines and flag states to provide answers.
How can such a healthy and happy young man "disappear" without anyone at Princess Cruises knowing a thing?
Do you have information about this story? Please contact Ms. Chiara chiara_faliva@msn.com or the ICV.
The Italian press continues to closely follow the story of Angelo Faliva who "disappeared" on November 25, 2009 from the Coral Princess cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises, which is headquartered in Santa-Clarita, California.
It is now two months after the unexplained loss of young Mr. Faliva. His family continues to seek clues regarding what really happened to their son and brother.
Italy's Il Messaggero newspaper explains that the Bermuda police just notified the Faliva family via email that they have not even looked at the data on Mr. Faliva's three mobile telephones, camera or laptop because they are "very busy" with other matters.
The cruise line apparently told the family that the hundreds of surveillance cameras "didn't show anything," which is implausible but exactly what cruise lines say unless the cameras exonerate them. It is unknown whether Bermuda has bothered to look at the surveillance tapes. A lot of times, the police will just parrot what the cruise lines tell them to say.
Princess cruise ships fly the flag of Bermuda which is suppose to investigate crimes and disappearances on Bermuda flagged vessels. Unfortunately, what is happening to the Faliva family demonstrates the real attitude of Bermuda. Cruise lines like Princess register their cruise ship in Bermuda to avoid U.S. taxes and safety and labor regulations - not because Bermuda has a reputation of vigorously investigating and solving crimes.
The article mentions that Angelo's sister, Chiara Faliva, has not lost hope and continues to patiently wait for answers. She has created a Facebook page to help the family finds answers. She is trying to involve the Italian Foreign Minister and the local prosecutors in the city of Cremona in Northern Italy where the Faliva family lives.
Chiara Faliva has thousands of questions, such as why has no one interviewed the passengers in the Sabbatini's restaurant on the cruise ship where Mr. Faliva worked? Was the list of passengers destroyed? Ms. Faliva apparently had an argument with another crew member earlier and a warning had been issued and then later rescinded. Did Mr. Faliva see something he should not have, such as drug smuggling - which we have written about: "Cruise Ships & Drug Smuggling."
This story underscores the difficulties which families face when they lose a loved on on a foreign flagged cruise ship. Princess' s corporate headquarters are in California. The Faliva family is in Italy. And the so-called investigators in Bermuda are, well, in Bermuda and waited ten days before traveling to the cruise ship.
The cruise line's internal investigation is designed to protect the cruise line's reputation and legal interests at the expense of the truth. And the "investigators" of the flag country? Unmotivated. Disinterested. Beholden to the cruise line which pays them. These are the conclusions which come to my mind.
The Il Messaggero article mentions being "neither dead nor alive." It is less than clear whether the article is referring to Mr. Faliva and the uncertainty surrounding his disappearance - or to his sister who is forced to live in a state of limbo looking for answers.
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To learn more about Angelo Faliva's "disappearance" on Princess Cruises' Coral Princess, please consider reading:
It is now two months after the unexplained loss of young Mr. Faliva. His family continues to seek clues regarding what really happened to their son and brother.
passengers destroyed? Ms. Faliva apparently had an argument with another crew member earlier and a warning had been issued and then later rescinded. Did Mr. Faliva see something he should not have, such as drug smuggling - which we have written about: "
